Monday, October 24, 2011

5th Annual Trash Bash

The Sebago Canoe Club has long demonstrated a commitment to caring for the health of our waters and fostering stewardship. A six-time recipient of the ACA's Club Fostered Stewardship (CFS) Program grants, the Sebago Canoe Club held their 5th Annual Trash Bash this year and had record attendance. The shoreline cleanup of Paerdegat Basin in Brooklyn, New York, both engaged members of the organization, public, and youth groups to clean up the area, as well as educating them about the importance of issues related to healthy shores and water.

"The debris along our shores comes from many sources and can ultimately be traced back to people who have not been near the water. Trash left on sidewalks and streets becomes shoreline debris after heavy rains wash everything into the sewers, and ultimately out to the water," says Mary Eyster.

This year was worst than most for many New England states and cleanups because of hurricane Irene. The Trash Bash had to be postponed once due to high waters, and the wrath of Irene left a large amount of debris along the shores and above the normal high tide mark.

Among the many items collected, the most common pieces of debris were everyday items like plastic bags and food packaging. In just a few hours, Sebago's volunteers collected nearly 500 plastic bags, more than 300 plastic bottles, and over 1,000 food wrappers.

We would like to thank Sebago for their commitment to protecting Paerdegat Basin and promoting good stewardship practices!